Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) Director General Mr. Frankson Musukwa says there is need to sensitize persons with disabilities on the importance of being registered and getting a Disability Card.
Mr. Musukwa says in order to meaningfully involve persons with disabilities in the development agenda, there is need to have them registered with ZAPD and this can be done from the Agency’s provincial and district offices across the country.
The ZAPD Director General said it is only with a well maintained and up to date Disability Management Information System (DMIS) that the Agency will be able to provide credible up-to-date data, for planning and meaningful support to persons with disabilities.
Mr. Musukwa said, the disability card, apart from being the proof of disability of the holder is key to accessing important public services and social protection programmes from government.
He appealed to all stakeholders to treat disability inclusion as a moral obligation for all Zambians, and a priority on the country’s development agenda and ensure that no one is left behind.
Mr. Musukwa added that government is committed to this cause as can be seen by the continuous increase of the budgetary allocation towards Social Protection Programmes that target the poor and vulnerable in society throughout the entire life cycle.
He said this is an indication that the country is strongly committed to the general principles of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), such as the principle of non-discrimination, equality of opportunity and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of the human diversity and humanity.
Meanwhile Mr. Musukwa has commended the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for the support and positive attention exhibited towards leaving no one behind in the development agenda and government’s long-term vision of inclusive development.
He said he is aware of the good works being done by CRS under the Inclusive Family Strengthening Program in Luapula and Copperbelt provinces.
Mr. Musukwa said this at the Community Dialogue meeting organized by CRS in Ndola.